Folding bed



A. CARLETTI Aug. 4, 1959 FOLDING BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l1,1957 A. CARLETTI Aug. 4, 1959 FOLDING BED Filed March 1l, 1957 Allg. 4,1959 A CARLETT] 2,897,519

FOLDING BED Filed March 11. 195'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /nVen/ar aff/'s /faeWar/67W Aug. 4, 1959 Filed March 11, 1957 A. CARLETTI FOLDING BED 4Sheets-Sheet 4 y www nited States Patent FOLDING BED Aristide Carletti,Rome, Italy Application 'March 11, 1957, Serial No. l645,159 Claimspriority, application Italy March 12, 1956 7 Claims. (Cl. 5-177) Thisinvention relates to a bed that may be dismounted and folded as to havea minimum cumbersomeness and that may be readily hand carried and storedin a relatively reduced space.

-It is well known that many attempts were hitherto made to provide a bedthat may be dismounted and folded to be used mainly as a bed for camps,barracks, hospitals, hotels or as a reserve bed in private houses. Mostof these existing beds of the prior art still have such disadvantages asto limit their use on a large scale. For instance, some dismountablebeds had a fabric rest surface which was too rigid and uncomfortable.Other beds of the described character were formed of many small elementsand related connections, which may be separated from one another, so

that the loss of one of these elements or connections could easilyoccur. Other existing beds were formed only by folding portions whichcould not be detached from one another. The main defect of the lastmentioned beds consisted in the fact that, although many folding methodswere pro-vided, such beds, when folded, still had such a large volume asto discourage the hand transport thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bed that may bedismounted and folded, having such characteristics as to remove or atleast considerably reduce the above mentioned disadvantages of theexisting beds. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a bedcomprises three portions which may be detached from one another and areformed by elements which may be foldedV so as to give a minimumcumbersomeness, one of such portions being formed by a springy metalfabric that may be completely separated from the other two portions ofthev bed and is provided with means by which it is possible toV adjustat will the tension of said metal fabric.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bed that may bedismounted and folded so as to give a minimum cumbersomeness,substantially comprising ahead frame portion to which partial lengths oflongitudinal elements of the bedstead are pivotally connected, a footframe portion to which the remaining partial lengths of.

said longitudinal elements of the bedsteady are pivotally connected, anda rest surface portion formed by a springy metal fabric; the bed formingportions being detachable from one another, and then foldable so as togive a minimum cumbersomeness and finally joined with one another as toobtain a unit that may be readily hand carried.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a bed of the abovedescribed character that may be dismounted and folded, and wherein someof said partial lengths of the longitudinal elements of the bedstead,when said bedstead is in its operative unfolded position, are subjectedto axial compression and operate as struts, while other partial lengthsof the longitudinal elements of the bedstead are subjected to axial pulland operate as tierods for allowing adjustment of the tension of therest surface portion.

Afurtherobject of the present'invention is to provide each provided witha hinge 17 adjacent the end attached ice abed'of the described characterthat may be dismounted and folded, and wherein the partial lengths ofthe longitudinal elements of the bedstead which are, pivotally connectedwith the head frame portion and the foot frame portion, respectively,may be folded in the planes defined by said head and foot frameportions, so as to form two folded structures which may be overlapped toform a unit that may be readily hand carried, the rest surface portionbeing placed in a space provided between said folded and overlappedstructures. p

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description which is to be read inconnection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the bed accordingto my invention, shown in condition for use;

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the bed shown in Fig. 1, but invarious dismounting and folding stages;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of another embodiv ment of theinvention, with the parts thereof shown in partially and fully foldedconditions, respectively; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of still another embodiment of theinvention, with the parts thereof being shown partially folded and incondition for storage or transport, respectively.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will beseen that the bed there illustrated substantially comprises only threeseparable portions, i.e. a head portion 1, a foot portion 2 and a restsurface 3. The head portion 1 comprises a metal frame `4 bent into theshape of an inverted U and suitable to form a back 5 'and legs 6 and 7.The foot portion 2 is similar to the head portion and comprises a metalframe 4 formed by a horizontal back 5 and legs 6 and 7. The otherelements which form the separable portions 1 and 2 are also the same, sothat it will be sufficient to provide a detail description only of theelements of the portion 1 and to identify the corresponding elements ofthe other portion 2 by the same reference numbers but with the letter aappended thereto.

The legs 6 and 7 of the metal frame 4 are connected to one another byhorizontal and parallel cross bars 8, 9, 10; the bars 9 and 10 beingfixed, while the upper bar 8 is connected to the legs of the frame 4 soas to be free to rotate round its axis. Moreover, the upper cross bar 8is provided with rings 11 and a pair of bores 12 at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of said bar. The ends of the cross bar 9, which ispreferably of tubular shape, are surrounded by two turnable couplingsleeves 13, 14 to which there are welded two tubular struts 15 and 16,

tothe related coupling sleeve. The tubular struts 15 and 16, whenextending in a straight line, are at right angles tothe bar 9-and havefree ends 18 which are so shaped as lto be threaded on the free ends 18aof the corresponding tubular struts 15a and 16a connected to the crossbar 9a 'of the foot frame 4'. Tie rods 19, 20 are connected by turnablesleeves 21 and 22 to the end of the lower tubular bar lll and eachtie-rod is provided with a hinge 23 at a location adjacent the endattached to the related sleeve 21 or 22. The free ends of the tierods 19and 20 are provided with a pair of openings 24, (Fig. 2), while the freeends of the corresponding tie-rods 19a and 20a are provided with a pairof bolts 25 suitable to be threaded in the openings 24 when the tie-rods19 and 20 and 19a and 20a are extended in a straight line in such a waythat the tie rods are at right angles with respect to the correspondingbars 10 and 10a, the free ends of said tie-rods may be coupled by meansof theengagement of bolts 25 in the openings 24, as shown `1`n Fig. l.Stilening members 26, pivoted to the legs of the frames 4A and 4 andsuitable to engage with the longitudinal struts and 16, serve to preventundesired distorsions of the elements of the bed when this bed isassembled in its normal position of use (Fig. 1).

The third separable portion ofthe bedv shownin` Figs. 1; 2 and 3 isformed by the rest surface 3 comprising for instance a simple or springymetal fabric 27'. The end edges of said metal fabric have rigid strips28 and 29 provided with rings 30; and under the strip 28L thereareweldedy two tapped bosses 31 theaxes of which are at right angles withthe corresponding edge of the metal fabric and located to registeraxially with the bores 12 provided in the cross bar S of thehead portionI1.

For mounting the rest surface 31 on the bed supporting structure, formedby the portions 1 and 2 coupled to one anotherrin the manner shown inFigure 1, `first the rings 30 of the strip 29 of the metal fabric 27 areconnected to the rings ,11a of the cross bar 8a, eg. by belts, bands,double hooks or similar members whichv are not visible in Fig. 1.Successively, two threaded pins 32 (Fig. 1') freely turnable in thebores 12 of the cross` bar 8 are engaged with the tapped bosses 31 ofthe metal fabric, so as to tighten said metal fabric to the desireddegree by screwing` said threaded pins 32. When the strip 2S is drawnnear the cross bar S by means of said threaded pins 32, the rings 11 and30 may be connected by any coupling member (eg. metal tongues 33 bentinto the shape of an S), and thereafter the threaded pins may bepartially or fully unscrewed.

It is to be understood that, in the embodiment now being described, therest surface 3 exerts a pull on the cross bars 8, 8a, of the frames 4, 4which may swing relative to the longitudinal struts 15, 15a and 16, 16a,due to the turnable sleeve connections 13, 13a, 14 and 14a, and theangular positions of the frames 4, 4 relative to the longitudinal strutsare defined by the fixed tie-rods 19, 19a and 20, 20a which are undertension. However, in a slightly different embodiment, means may beprovided for adjusting at will the length of said tie-rods.

For reducing the bed to the condition of minimum cumbersomeness, thesurface 27 is tightened by means of the threaded pins 32 until thetongues 33 are disengaged. Then the threaded pins 32 are completelyunscrewed and the opposite edge of the rest surface 3 is detached fromthe foot portion 2 of the bed. Successively the free ends of thelongitudinal elements 15, 16, 19 and 20 are detached from thecorresponding longitudinal elements 15a, 16a, 19a and 20a (Figure 2).Then the longitudinal elements 15 and 16, and 19 and 20 are folded attheir respective hinges 17 and 23 (Fig. 2), while the coupling sleeves13, 14, 21 and 22 are turned, and the longitudinal elements and couplingsleeves of the frame 4 are similarly manipulated, so as to bring theelements 15, 16, 19 and 20 in the plane of the head frame 4 and theelements 15a, 16a, 19a and 20a in the plane of the foot frame`4 (Fig.3). 1 and 2 may be placed in confronting relation and there fixed by anysuitable means. The rest surface 3 is suitably folded or rolled up andheld between the portions .1y

and 2.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is also substantially formed bythree portions that may be separated from one another that is, a headportion 101, a foot portion 102 and a rest surface (not shown). Theportions 101 and 102 are identical and each portion is formed by a frame104 or 104 provided with cross-bars 108, 109, 110 or 108a, 109a, 110a,with the bars 109 and 109a bearing longitudinal folding end elements115, 116' or 115a, 116awhich cooperate with one another as to formspacing struts for the frames 104 and 104.

Each of the frames 104 and 104 comprises two'tubular legs 36- and 37into which the parallel and tubular arms 38--and- 39 of an inverted,U-shapedtubular back 40-may slide, and the upper vertices of a zig-zagbentv metal wirel At last the two portions 48a, 49a of folding backs 50and 50a.

4 l 42 may be welded to the horizontal length 41 of said tubular back40.

The tie-rods, which cooperate with the struts 115, 116 and er, 116a fortightening the rest surface 3, are exible and adjustable in theembodiment of Figs. 4 and 5.

More particularly, said tie-rods comprise cables 43 and 44 permanentlyconnected to the detachable head portion 101 at the cross-bar 110 andsimilar cables 43a and 44a permanently connected to the foot portion102. When the bed is mounted in normal position of use, the cables 44and 44a extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed and areconnected to one another by a threaded sleeve 45. It is, apparent that,by rotating the sleeve 45, the lower ends of the legs 36, 37 may bemoved more or less toward the lower ends of the corresponding legs 36a,37a so that, since the portions 101 and 102 are turnable relative to thestruts about the axes of the cross-bars 109 and 10951, the rest portionconnected to the upper cross-bar 108 is: more or less'tensioned.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the frames 204 and204 comprise curved legs 46, 47 andl at'46 and 47', the free ends ofcurved arms 48, 49 and mounted in its normal position of use, the backs50 and 50a are ixed in such a way that the curved arms 48, 49, 48a and49a together with the respective curved lges 46, 47, 46a and 47a formelements having the shape of an S,

as shown in Fig. 6. On the contrary, for reducing the cumbersomeness ofthe bed in its condition for transport or storage, the backs 50 and 50aare folded as to draw the respective arms 48, 49 and 48a, 49a over thecorresponding legs 46, 47 and 46a, 47a; and then, after having foldedand rotated all the longitudinal strut and tie-rod elements as generallyillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to dispose such elements in thesemi-cylindrical planes defined by the curved legs, the portions 201 and202 are placed facing one another as to dene a cylindrical or tubularstructure into which the rolled up rest surface 203 is inserted. TheWhole cylindrical unit obtained in such a way is bound by means of beltsor like means 52 to which a handle 51 or other holding member iseventually fixed (Fig. 7)..

It will be understood that the rest surface 203 of the bed in Figs. 6and 7 is joined to the cross-bars 208 of the end portions 201 and 202 inthe same manner as has been defscribed above in connection with the bedof Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Although illustrative embodiments of this invention have been describedin detail herein it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade by Way of example and that numerous moditications and changes inthe details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bed comprising head and foot portions each including a transversesupport frame, longitudinal elements rocking axes of the related supportframes, a rest surface,V

portion of a resilient metal fabric, and means detachably connecting theopposite ends of said rest surface portion to the support frames of saidhead and foot portions at locations above said lateral rocking axes ofthe support frames sothat theV rocking of said support frames induced bytensioning of said rest surface portion isopposed; by

When the bed issaid tension accepting means, each of said longitudinalelements including a rst short section extending radially with respectto said lateral rocking axis of the related support frame and a second,relatively long section hingedly joined to said rst section to swingrelative to the latter between an operative position in axial alignmentwith said first section and a stored position where said second sectionis parallel to said rocking axis of the related support frame.

2. A bed as in claim l; wherein said tension accepting means includestie-rods pivotally connected at one end to the support frame of each ofsaid head and foot portions and having cooperative securing means at theopposite ends of the tie-rods for detachably connecting the tie-rods ofsaid head portion to the tie-rods of said foot portion; and wherein eachof said tie-rods includes a first short section extending radially withrespect to the pivoting axis of the tie-rod on the related support frameand a second, relatively long section hingedly joined to said rstsection of the tie-rod to swing relative to the latter between anoperative position, where said second and first sections of the tie-rodare in axial alignment With each other, and a stored position, wheresaid second section of the tie-rod is parallel to said pivoting axis ofthe tierod on the related support frame, so that, with said secondsections of the longitudinal elements and tie-rods in said storedposition, said first sections of the longitudinal elements and tie-rodscan be turned about said rocking axis and pivoting axis, respectively,to dispose said longitudinal elements and tie-rods of each support framein the plane passing through said rocking and pivoting axes of therelated support frame.

3. A bed as in claim 2; wherein each of said support frames hasparallel, spaced apart, transversely extending upper, lower andintermediate cross-bars, said intermediate and lower cross-bars of eachsupport frame defining said rocking and pivoting axes, respectively; andwherein said means detachably connecting the opposite ends of said restsurface portion to said support frames are secured to said uppercrossbars of each support frame.

4. A bed as in claim 3; wherein said means detachably connecting theopposite ends of said rest surface portion to said support framesincludes, two threaded members extending rotatably through said uppercross-bar of each support frame at right angles to the axis of saidupper cross-bar, tapped bosses on the ends of said rest surface portioninto which said threaded members can be screwed to draw said ends of therest surface portion toward the related support frames, and releasablemeans on said upper cross-bars and said ends of the rest surface portionengageable when said ends of the rest surface portion are drawn towardthe support frames.

5. A bed as in claim 4; wherein said releasable means includes rings onsaid upper cross-bar and the adjacent end of said rest surface portion,and S-shaped clips engageable in said rings when said ends of the restsurface portion are drawn toward the support frames.

6. A bed comprising head and foot portions each including a transversesupport frame, longitudinal elements pivotally connected, at one end, tosaid support frame to permit rocking of the latter about a lateral axis,the opposite ends of said longitudinal elements having cooperativesecuring means for detachably connecting the longitudinal elements ofsaid head portion to the longitudinal elements of said foot portion withthe connected longitudinal elements in axial alignment with each other,tension accepting means detachably connecting the support frame of saidhead portion to the support frame of said foot portion at locationsdisposed below said lateral rocking axes of the related support frames,a rest surface portion of a resilient metal fabric, each of said supportframes having a cross-bar extending laterally above the rocking axis ofthe support frame, and means detachably connecting the opposite ends ofthe rest surface portion to the support frames including ringsprojecting from said cross-bar of each frame and from the adjacent endof said rest surface portion, S-shaped clips engageable with relatedrings on said cross-bar and adjacent end of the rest surface portion,tapped bosses on each end of said rest surface portion, and boltsrotatably extending through each cross-bar and adapted to be screwedinto said tapped bosses for drawing said ends of the rest surfaceportion toward the adjacent support frames so that said clips can thenbe engaged with, and released from, said related rings.

7. A bed comprising head and foot portions each including a transversesupport frame, longitudinal elements pivotally connected, at one end, tosaid support frame to permit rocking of the latter about a lateral axis,the opposite ends of said longitudinal elements having cooperativesecuring means for detachably connecting the longitudinal elements ofsaid head portion to the longitudinal elements of said foot portion withthe connected longitudinal elements in axial alignment with each other,tension accepting means detachably connecting the support frame of saidhead portion to the support frame of said foot portion at locationsdisposed below said lateral rocking axes of the related support frames,a rest surface portion of a resilient metal fabric, and means detachablyconnecting the opposite ends of said rest surface portion to the supportframes of said head and foot portions at locations above said lateralrocking axes of the support frames so that the rocking of said supportframes induced by tensioning of said rest surface portion is opposed bysaid tension accepting means, each of said support frames includingcurved legs and an upper part having curved side arms hingedly connectedto said curved legs so that said upper part can be displaced between anerected position, where said curved side arms extend upwardly from saidlegs and curve in the opposite direction with respect to the curvatureof said legs, and a stored position, where said curved side arms nestagainst the related curved legs, so that both support frames can bedisposed in confronting relation to define a generally cylindrical spacefor receiving said rest surface portion following rolling of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS987,736 Olson et al. Mar. 28, 1911 1,255,675 Wheatley Feb. 5, 19181,577,205 Davis Mar. 16, 1926 1,693,012 Wright Nov. 27, 1928 FOREIGNPATENTS 431 Great Britain Ian. 30, 1880 6,109 Great Britain Mar. 15,1909

